Gallo on playing third: 'I'd rather catch'

Former third baseman has played at LF, 1B past 2 years

By
T.R. Sullivan

May 16, 2018

SEATTLE -- The Rangers have contemplated the idea of getting Joey Gallo back to playing third base. Gallo is against the idea."I don't want. I don't like it," Gallo said before Wednesday's game with the Mariners. "I hate it, no joke. I hate third base."Gallo was a third baseman coming

SEATTLE -- The Rangers have contemplated the idea of getting Joey Gallo back to playing third base. Gallo is against the idea."I don't want. I don't like it," Gallo said before Wednesday's game with the Mariners. "I hate it, no joke. I hate third base."Gallo was a third baseman coming up through the Rangers' Minor League system and always prided himself in playing the position. Over the past two years, he has played first base and left field as well. That has left Gallo with the impression that third base is the toughest of the three and not his best position."I'd rather catch," he said. "No joke."The idea came up because third baseman Adrian Beltre is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. He also will be a free agent after the season. Right now, the plan is for Isiah Kiner-Falefa to play third base. Manager Jeff Banister said the Rangers have talked about Gallo playing third, but no plan has been put in place.Gallo continues to play left field and occasionally will move to first base when Ronald Guzman sits against left-handed pitching. Gallo said he would play third base if asked."I'll play there. I have no problem playing there," Gallo said. "It's a tough spot to be in. No one has even asked me, but if they did, I'd tell them I'm playing."Andrus hoping to resume baseball activitiesElvis Andrus is in Texas while the Rangers are in Seattle, but the shortstop is hoping to join them in Chicago and resume baseball activities.Wednesday marked five weeks since Andrus' right elbow was fractured by a pitch from Angels reliever Keynan Middleton. Andrus is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington with the hope of being cleared to at least field ground balls and play catch.

"It would be the next step," Banister said. "Obviously anytime you get cleared to do baseball activities, it speaks to the healing process. We've got to hear from the doctor what he is able to do."Andrus is on the 60-day disabled list, which means he will not be eligible to play until June 11. This is the first time in his career that he has been on the DL.Pitchers racking up hit batters
Rangers pitchers went into Wednesday's game having hit 33 batters, the most in the American League. The Mariners were second with 25, and the Cardinals led the National League with 22.The Rangers hit Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz twice on Tuesday, once by Mike Minor and again by Brandon Mann. The second clipped Cruz on the right foot and he had to leave the game with a contusion."I don't think there is any intent to go out and hit a lot of batters," Banister said. "You've got to pitch inside. We have hit a lot of toes and that goes down as a hit batter. Cole [Hamels] hit three in one game. A number of guys have been trying to get the breaking ball down and underneath the hitter. You've got to pitch inside."Rangers beat
• Mann turned 34 on Wednesday.